Orthopedics added to PCHS specialty services

Perkins County Health Services has expanded their specialty care services with the addition of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Eric Verploeg. 

PCHS is partnering with Rural Partners in Medicine (RPM) in Steamboat Springs, Colorado to bring Dr. Verploeg to Grant twice a month. He began seeing patients in October 2018. 

With a passion for bringing higher-level surgical care to remote places, RPM has seen firsthand the benefits of specialty care in full-service rural hospitals. They understand how that care translates to economic growth and prosperity for the hospital, its staff, its patients and the community. They currently work with 14 hospitals in Nebraska and 11 others in six states. 

As he begins to slow down from his fast-paced 30-year career as an orthopedic surgeon in Steamboat, Verploeg, 62, has scaled down his schedule specifically to specialty clinics at PCHS and Tri Valley Health System in Cambridge.  

Becoming a surgeon

Knowing he wanted to go to Iowa State University but unsure of his career path, Verploeg chose to major in pre-vet. His father was a veterinarian graduate of Iowa State, so it seemed a good choice at the time. 

After completing the two-year pre-vet program and getting accepted into vet school, he decided it wasn’t for him. He began taking EMT classes, spending time in hospitals and operating rooms. 

“Once I did that, I said OK, this is what I want to do.” 

As far as choosing orthopedics, Verploeg said he spent a lot of time as a patient with orthopedic doctors growing up, from pigeon toes and crooked fingers, to sports injuries in high school. 

“The minute I knew I was going to be a doctor, I knew there was only one thing I wanted to do. I didn’t even consider any other specialties.”

After graduating from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in ‘82, Verploeg completed his five-year residency in orthopedic surgery at University of New Mexico Hospitals. 

He then had the opportunity to complete a three-month fellowship in orthopedic traumatology in Switzerland and West Germany. 

Verploeg said back in the ‘80s is when orthopedics in the U.S. began operating on broken bones with plates and screws, etc., and the Swiss pioneered these techniques. 

He said the two surgeons who trained him, Dr. Thomas Ruedi and Dr. Berndt Claudi, were probably the two leading traumatologists in Europe. 

To round out a full year’s fellowship, he completed three months in sports medicine at the Hughston Orthopaedic Clinic in Georgia and sixth months in knee and sports medicine in Lake Tahoe, California under Dr. J. Richard Steadman. 

Verploeg said as medicine keeps developing, every field is getting more sub-specialized. He estimated four out of five orthopedic residents are going on to do a fellowship and getting a year of extra training in a subspecialty. However, being able to do three fellowships as he did is no longer an option. 

Verploeg serves on many professional boards including the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. 

He has also traveled with and provided services to the U.S. Ski Team as a member of their physician pool.

Verploeg provides and enjoys all general orthopedics, but said his passion is knee surgery. 

“If you said pick one and that’s all you’re going to do all day long, I’d pick knees.”

Expanding

With immediate growth in Verploeg’s local clinic and surgical schedule, CEO Neil Hilton indicated the need for a second physical therapist and a physician’s assistant to support PCHS’ commitment to orthopedic services.  

“The development of an orthopedic presence here has been very impactful for our PT and rehab program.  We’ve recently interviewed two physical therapy candidates, perfectly cued by Ben Holmstedt. We are very eager to add to our excellent rehab staff,” Hilton said. “We’re off to a great start, and we’ll grow the program as we can in relation to the team.”  

For more information, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Verploeg, call 308-352-7200.